Why Wooden Windows Are Growing In Popularity

The earliest
windows were just holes in a wall. The second earliest windows had a wooden
frame, and it's a testament to their timelessness that they’re still in fashion
to this day.

In this guide
we shall explore the many reasons why wooden windows are growing in popularity,
and although slightly more expensive than other means, in the long run can add
value and character to your house that other window types simply can’t.

House + Wooden Windows = Higher Value

Money makes the world go round, so let’s start there.
Adding wooden windows will increase your house value. UPVC (Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) may be cheaper, but they
have a life expectancy of thirty-five years before cracks appear, they become
brittle, and lose their glossy finish. Wooden windows typically last over one
hundred years, and so although initially more expensive than uPVC, their
biggest competitor, they can last over three times as long.

Furthermore, if you have a period home then plastic
windows can seriously detract from your house value, as they will look out of
place next to older materials, such as stone and slate. There has recently been
a plea by English Heritage for people to stop using uPVC windows in conservation areas as it’s
spoiling the look of them.

Environmentally Friendly

Only fifty
percent of uPVC windows are recycled, the rest end up in a landfill or
incinerated. At the end of their life wooden windows can be used as an environmentally
friendly bio-fuel. Timber is a natural material, and often the entire process
is sustainable, with more trees being planted than are harvested (especially in
Scandinavia). The production of uPVC windows emits many harmful chemicals, some
of which are the subject of international conventions to be banned. Greenpeace
recently highlighted this issue - publishing a guide urging people to use timber windows
over uPVC.

Low Maintenance

A common
misconception about wooden windows is that they require a lot of maintenance. While
it’s true that you need to take care of them, a quick wipe down, and a brush coat
of the correct paint is usually enough to protect the window for another five
years.

UPVC windows
often crack and require painting to keep their glossy finish, not to mention
trying to get rid of the algae that can grow in the cracks. Wooden windows can
also be easily repaired on the rare occasions they get damaged. People in
favour of uPVC will often state that wooden windows require much more
maintenance, and while this is true in the short term (if you can count once
every five years as a significant amount), in the long term this is certainly
not the case.

In Fashion

Interior
decorating is a must to keep your house from looking dated. When I walk into my
grandparents’ house I feel like I’m back in the sixties, with the beige
wallpaper and brown furniture.

It’s important
to keep your house up to date, and a good place to start is with wooden windows
and floors, as they never go out of fashion. A luxury New York loft, the accommodation
I often dream about, wouldn’t have as much character if instead of a thick wooden
frame the windows were plastic. That’s not part of my dream at all. If like me
you spend time looking out of the window daydreaming, then I’d want that dream
to be framed by an attractive material like wood.

Performance

The
properties of timber windows enable extremely high performance in relation to
weather tightness, security, thermal performance, energy ratings and u value
(the measure of a material’s effectiveness as an insulator in buildings). Modern
manufacturing processes enable wooden windows to ‘breathe’ which helps to
maintain a proper dampness balance. Wooden windows are also extremely durable
and resistant to deformation, warping, and cracking.

Multiple Options

There are
plenty of options if you are considering wooden windows. The big three types
are:

Softwood:

·
Suits
both temporary and period style homes

·
Significantly
cheaper than other types (especially if glazed and decorated on-site)

Hardwood:

·
Perfect
for period style homes and barn conversions

·
More
stable and durable than softwoods

Composite:

·
Consists
of timber windows with a weather proof capping

·
Ideal
for harsh climates

·
Works
better with modern designs

·
Lowest
maintenance.

Wooden
windows can be stained in any colour, or alternatively varnished to reveal the
natural beauty of the timber. With modern technology, wood can virtually be
milled into an unlimited array of shapes and profiles.

The bottom line

In the late
1980s and early 1990s building developers switched to using uPVC windows and many
people were sold on the idea of hassle-free windows. However, in recent times, maintaining
wooden windows has become significantly easier, and as those uPVC windows are
reaching the end of their life expectancy and are starting to look worse for wear,
people are returning to trusty wooden windows for their unmatched benefits and
beauty.

Have you got
any thoughts on wooden windows or want to share your top maintenance tips? If
so, be sure to fire us a tweet – we always want to hear what you have to say.

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